Produced from the first Chardonnay vines planted high on our Mountain Estate, this wine is named for Fred and Juelle's firstborn daughter, Whitney.
First planted in 1973 to Old Wente clone Chardonnay, Whitney's Vineyard grows at 1,000 feet elevation on a gravelly, gently sloping, southwestern facing hillside. Owing to its mountain heritage and low-nutrient soils, this site produces tiny clusters of tightly packed ‘hens and chicks’ (berries of wide ranging size) yielding wines that boast brilliant minerality and classic Chardonnay character. This site was replanted in two phases with greater vine density, establishing new vines in 2013 and 2016, all grafted to original clonal material.
Produced from the first Chardonnay vines planted high on our Mountain Estate, this wine is named for Fred and Juelle's firstborn daughter, Whitney.
The 2010 Whitney's Vineyard appears light straw color in the glass, with fragrant aromas of ripe peach, lemon zest, and honeysuckle. Expansive on entry, this Chardonnay boasts rich texture that is beautifully balanced by a fresh citrus quality and racy mountain acidity. The palate shows complex flavors of honey, lemon créme brulee and marzipan. While this wine is stunning today, similar earlier vintages have proven that a few years of bottle age may be well worth the wait!